The physical will be especially important for McCarthy, who was Oakland’s opening-day starter last season.

McCarthy, 29, was hit in the right side of the head by a line drive off the bat of Erick Aybar of the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 5. He sustained an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and skull fracture, then underwent a two-hour surgery.

Last month, McCarthy spent two days undergoing extensive evaluations by a renowned concussion expert, Dr. Michael Collins, at the University of Pittsburgh. He was cleared by Collins to begin working out and resuming his regular offseason routine.

Godfrey was 9-2 with a 3.29 ERA and one save last season with Triple-A Sacramento. He started the year with Oakland and appeared in five games, going 0-4 with a 6.43 ERA. Godfrey, 28, has made eight starts in his 10 major league appearances, all during the past two seasons, and is 1-6 with a 5.09 ERA.

Gardner can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses under the deal: $25,000 each for 375, 400, 425, 450, 475 and 500 plate appearances.

BASEBALL’S AVERAGE salary increased 3.8 percent this year to a record $3.2 million.

According to final figures released by the Major League Baseball Players Association, the rise was the steepest since 2007. The boost was helped by an increase in the minimum salary from $414,000 to $480,000.

The deal was announced two days after it was agreed to at the winter meetings.

NATIONALS: Right-hander Dan Haren agreed to a one-year contract.

Earlier in the week, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press it would be worth $13 million.

CUBS: The Chicago team finalized a $9.5 million, two-year contract with Japanese pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa.

Fujikawa, a 32-year-old right-hander, had 220 saves in 12 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Central League. He played for Japan at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics, and the the 2008 Olympics.

BLUE JAYS: The team plans to honor a former slugger, Carlos Delgado, next year by adding his name to the club’s Level of Excellence.

Delgado, the franchise leader in home runs and RBI, will be the 10th person to be so honored by the Jays, who are planning a pregame ceremony for July 21.

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